Church leaders seek justice for slain Indian journalist

Light of truth

Catholic and other church leaders have joined journalists and rights’ groups in demanding a detailed investigation into the murder of an investigative reporter – a tribal Christian – in India’s eastern Jharkhand State.

The body of Amit Topno, who extensively covered a local tribal resistance movement, was found under a bridge near the state’s capital, Ranchi, on Dec. 9. An autopsy found that he had been shot through the head, media reports stated.

Investigating officer Ramesh Kumar Singh called it a murder. But police had not arrested anyone as of on Dec. 19.

“We want a free and fair investigation into his murder,” said Father Davis Solomon, a Jesuit social worker based in Ranchi.

Topno, a member of the Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church, provided exclusive television coverage of tribal oppression through his freelance video journalism, the priest said.